Lonehill Animal Welfare News -

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020

Welcome!

There are some wonderful people in Lonehill who, on a completely volunteer basis, take care of healthy populations of feral cats, bunnies, goats, dogs etc. They sometimes share their tales with the Lonehill Community on this Lonehill Animal Welfare News website as they depend on the public for support, donations, volunteering and sharing in their good and not so good news sometimes.
If you have any articles and photos about animal welfare to share with the Lonehill Community, you can contact the webmaster to submit such articles and photos by Tuesday at 12:00 noon. In the LRA newsletter a link is published weekly to this independent website. Articles can be any length and photos any size.

September 21, 2021September 22, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 21 SEPTEMBER 2021

This week has been a bag of mixed rescues: cats, kittens, bunnies, ducks and dogs.

Kitten rescue: In the short video clip on the right we have a kitten seemingly abandoned in a complex when the owners moved out, crying at the window to get back in.

No-one claimed the kitten. Another resident in the meanwhile fed him outside the unit but after a couple of days of no-one coming forward to claim him the shelter, Friends of Ferals, were contacted. As we had no team members close by we asked the resident who was feeding the kitten to take him to a local Vet where he was safe until one of the team could fetch him. This was done and the Vet put out a plea to find the owners but as no-one stepped forward the shelter fetched him and he is now safely with us.

The video is heart wrenching, how can people do this! It seems to be very common practice in complexes where the original owners think the kitten/cat can just fend for itself or that another resident will take pity on it. He’s now safe and will be up for adoption.

Kitten left behind

Jack Russell bitten by a snake: This Jack Russell in the photo above was rescued by us some 10 years ago as a puppy. Unfortunately he was bitten by a snake last week. He is still not off the critical list.

Bunny release – local sanctuary

Bunnies and duck: See short video on the left. This week we had a sick bunny at the Vet who I collected from the Vet yesterday and she has now been put into our small private sanctuary together with our Mallard duck who cannot fly and one of the other bunnies who has medical issues. Being in a smaller environment makes it easier for us to catch them to administer meds etc.

Cats at feed station: We have several colonies that we feed ourselves but in many cases where we do TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) we encourage the people who have called us in to continue feeding the cats and set up housing for them thus keeping the rodent situation under control.

This photo below was taken of 4 out of 8 of one of our colonies where due to COVID lockdown we have had to resort to feeding them outside the locked premises. We have been feeding them for over 2 years now.

All have been sterilized and vaccinated and have clips/notches in their ears showing they have been sterilized and are being cared for. Two of these 4 have now been socialised and homed leaving now only 6 at the feed station. It was obvious that the 2 now homed were originally either domestic strays or dumped.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1^st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Beneficiary Ref: “CG + Cell number”

Or to the shelter direct:
Friends of Ferals
FNB
Cheque a/c: 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Beneficiary Ref: “CG + Cell number”.

Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021

CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES – 14 SEPTEMBER 2021

DONATIONS

I received two large bags of cat food pellets last week. Whiskas and Feline Cuisine together with tins of Tuna which the cats love as a treat. I just want to thank the lady who dropped these off at VET TO PET, my collection bin was full.

LEAPING FROG CATS

This week I have included pictures of two of our cats (below) that we feed at the centre. One is Black Beauty that we call B.B. for short. The other picture is of Sandy, our tiniest member of the group. She is very sweet and gentle. Both of them must be getting on for 12 years or more now.

For those of you who donate cat food, my collection bin is at VET TO PET. Please drop off your soft food or pellets with them if you are keen to help with this feeding scheme.

Carole
caroledike@gmail.com
0824242363

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 14 SEPTEMBER 2021

Donations Bin in Pick’nPay
We no longer have a food donations bin inside our local Pick’nPay. Either contact myself on 083 611 1333 and I will collect from you or leave with Biz-X-Press just opposite Woolworths. I apologise for any inconvenience. For our preferred tins of food loved by the cats please see photos of last week.

Schweppes is doing well, see collage. Still a few weeks to go with another check-up next week. We need to leave in the stitches for as long as possible.

Minka, mentioned last week as also going to the Eye Hospital, is showing some improvement after a few days of once daily eye cleansing, see photo of Before and After. It is thought she has no tear duct in the one eye.

Abby, see collage:
After scans which revealed nothing, once opened up, altho’ hidden behind the kidneys and despite having been spayed some 2 years ago by another Vet, they found one ovary intact and the remains of the second ovary, both of which should have been removed when being spayed originally.

Had she not been in heat the operation would have been more involved.

She is now back at the shelter, Friends of Ferals (FoF, Hennospriver) and in the Cattery section until her wound heals and as seen from the collage has one of our teenage kittens looking thru the window checking she is okay.

Abby is a Torbie (half her coat is that of a Tabby and the other half that of a Tortie). She is not yet 3 years old, loving and affectionate and used to other cats and is now up for adoption.

Financial donation:
A huge thanks to the lady who has yet again donated a sum of money into our account with the Lonehill Vet. Altho’ done end of July I only saw it on my statement from the Vet early September. This enabled me to have the stray mother and son cats, trapped last week, not only sterilised but also for them to get their vaccinations, rabies and flea and worm treatment giving them a new, fresh start and they are now back in the office park where their carer of past few months is sorting out housing for them. Thank you again for this donation.

New kids on the block:
With the longer days and sunlight hours kitten season has started and 4 to 5 week old kittens are popping out of the woodwork. Charmaine at the shelter rescued and has taken in our first litter who will be up for adoption when around 8 weeks of age. See photos.

ADOPTIONS:

Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.
Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Beneficiary Ref: “CG + Cell number”
Or
Friends of Ferals
FNB
Cheque a/c: 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Beneficiary Ref: “CG + Cell number”.

Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 7 SEPTEMBER 2021

Donations Bin in Pick’nPay:

Our donations bin inside our local Pick’nPay was last week, Tuesday, removed as they wish to do a National Pet Drive. I know the location of this bin was convenient for shoppers leaving the store, however, if you have pet items or food specifically for us, Biz-X-Press just opposite Woolworths have kindly agreed to accept any donations on our behalf.

Previously when we had a surplus of dry pellets but were desperately short on tinned food Pick’nPay would kindly allow us to exchange the dry pellets for soft food, both tins and pouches. The cats soft food of choice is the Pampers Mince (as no lumps) per photo and the P’n Pay’s own brand of Tuna per the photo.

Having so many cats we need to ensure daily that each one is eating and a small blob of soft food is used as a bribe, we also use it as a carrier for their meds and supplements that they receive on a daily basis.

Then for trapping the cats when injured or to be sterilised we use human tuna in brine/salt and Pilchards in tomato sauce (both strong smelling and different from their usual cat food) per photo. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Schweppes went for a check up on Friday and as an ulcer had formed from eye-lashes turning inwards they had to do some more suturing, yet another R1000 but still covered by myself from donations I have to hand so no burden on the Shelter.

Then today Minka (year old kitten) went to the Eye Hospital with a similar problem but we are not doing any surgery rather long term treatment but yet another account to pay.

Abby, who despite having been spayed over 2 years ago, still comes in heat which is currently the case today so I am bringing her down from the shelter for a scan, blood tests and surgery on Thursday, however, again this will not burden the shelter as I have raised the funds to cover her procedures, this will be done by Paulshof Vet. Then tomorrow morning I have 2 feral cats (mother in heat and son) going into the Lonehill Vet to be sterilised provided we manage to trap them in the morning.

Also on photos are the 2 females (Scritchley and Squeaky) trapped and spayed yesterday in Pretoria close to where they were trapped and a video of Maggie (a car engine rescue a while back) showing what to expect when in heat.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number
Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333
or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

August 31, 2021September 1, 2021

CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES – 1 SEPTEMBER 2021

The past 2 weeks have been busy with moving house and I just have not had time to write my Chronicles. This week is a shortened version to keep you all in the loop.

This picture bottom left is of SWEETIE PIE, one of our tamest ferals. She is so affectionate and each time I see her I feel so happy because she is doing well, even though she lives a precarious life. I would love to find her a safe home.

And the picture, bottom right, of BOY soaking up the last of the sun’s rays. He lives at Leaping frog shopping centre. A very friendly cat and he loves attention and tummy rubs. He is now about 12/13 years old and still going strong. All the volunteers love him. Both he and Sweetie Pie are favourites with all the volunteers.

DONATIONS

The last donations were received about 2 weeks ago. Lots of pouches. Fortunately the warm weather is picking up and the cats will not be so hungry as they were during winter. All donations are welcome and you can drop them off at Vet to Pet, in Lonehill shopping centre.

Hope to have more news next week.

Carole

0824242363

August 31, 2021September 1, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 1 SEPTEMBER 2021

This past week has been one of TNR, TNR, TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return).

Kitten season is on the horizon so time is of the essence. We still have 4 kittens at the shelter as yet not homed and now all teenagers. Life in a shelter is no place for a kitten. Each kitten season the numbers increase!

This week we trapped George (see photo and video below) a skittish unneutered male who, I was told, was feral. He was visiting various people’s houses to get food and in many cases being chased away making him even more skittish and afraid. A feral cat is most unlikely to go into people’s houses for food so from day one I’m assuming George is a stray who once depended upon humans for his food and care and not a feral cat.

No-one in the neighbourhood was missing this cat who appeared only 2 months ago. Estimated to be fairly young but not neutered. The older unneutered males tend to have large jowls due to their high testosterone levels and often cuts and scratches from numerous fights, George had none of these and the houses he was visiting all had sterilized cats. He no doubt got lost when, as an unneutered male, he started wandering looking for a female and could have then got into fights and contracted any of the viruses.

He’s been lucky. Once sterilized (this was done on Monday after establishing that he was negative for FIV and FeLV), vaccinated and dewormed etc, one of the residents offered to try and tame him up and we put him into her spare room. Within minutes, tho’ still groggy from the anaesthetic, he made a 360 degree turnaround. He loved being petted and stroked, wound himself around everyone’s legs and chatted away to all and sundry. He was now feeling safe and secure. Things look positive for him having found a new but forever home.

George was one of 10 cats TNR’ed in the past few days, tho’ in George’s case he was not Returned but Homed.

George, few hours after neuter

The rabies outbreak has worsened, so please get your cats and dogs vaccinated.

Then for amusement see the video clip on the left of one of the adopted cats with a pot of Pet Grass grown at the shelter, watch to the end.

Donations: Thanks to all for their food donations put into our bin just inside our local Pick’nPay especially to the person for the 5kg bag of Hills k/d. We have several cats at the shelter specifically on this food when we can afford it.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1^st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Financial Donations to:

J David Cats Galore

Standard Bank

Branch code: 051001

Cheque a/c no. 002982846

Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number

Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

Happiness is…..

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 24 AUGUST 2021

As mentioned last week this brave little kitten, Schweppes, went for her pre-op consultation last Tuesday at the Animal Eye Hospital and, despite the eczema directly beneath the lower eye lid they said things looked great, no sign of snuffles etc and that they would like to do the operation a.s.a.p.

An appointment was made for Monday past, 23rd August. First thing that morning we took her to Palm Gardens Vet to have her spay stitches out and to check on the Seroma that had formed, all was good, and then directly to the Eye Hospital before 9a.m.

I got a phone-call at 1 p.m. to say that Schweppes was in the recovery room and doing well and that the operation went better than anticipated. The eye-ball was intact (previously they were unsure as to whether it was still there) and they could see the retina so there’s a strong possibility of her having some vision once healed.

We are struggling to keep the cone on and in the first 12 hours she got it off 3 times. Even with a huge discount the operation and meds came to over R6000 but thanks to all of you who donated direct to me the entire bill was covered. Unfortunately the shelter, Friends of Ferals, although responsible for footing the bill would not have been able to do so, so huge thanks to all of you who recently donated to me, Cats Galore. Photo hereto of Schweppes sleeping it off!!!

Al Capone: See the collage on the left. This cat went missing as a teenager 5 months ago. Last week he was found safe and sound 13 kms away.

Kittens and young cats do not have long term memories it only develops later in life. He was probably chasing a butterfly and got lost and being young could not remember where he lived.

Al Capone belongs to Schweppes’ foster mommy so Schweppes now has another brother to keep him out of mischief.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1^st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”

Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021

FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER – 17 AUGUST 2021

More trapping again this week and in 3 different cases it has been TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) and in all cases the unspayed females were in heat so trapped just in time.

All these cats are tested for FIV/FeLV, given core vaccinations (extremely important at the moment because Panleukopenia is still doing its rounds and the survival rate in unvaccinated cats is very low) and then the rabies vaccination which is especially important with the recent outbreak of rabies in Gauteng. Rabies is an infectious neurological disease and is almost always fatal to unvaccinated cats as well as to dogs and humans. It is compulsory for all domestic pets to be vaccinated against Rabies and failure to do so is against the Law.

In one case where we trapped a small colony of 4 they needed to be relocated as the owner of the property where they lived was moving down to the South Coast.

There is no easy solution to relocating feral cats. Fortunately 2 of them had tamed up enough to be homed and the carer managed to find them a home together. The carer then managed to find a solution for the 2 remaining ferals where they would also be cared for, though still outdoors as ferals.

With the help of the current carer these two were trapped yesterday using my equipment and following our advice and although already sterilized some time ago (having notches in their ears indicating this) they are now at the vet for testing and vaccinations before going to their new location where they will be kept in a small enclosed area to get use to their new surroundings for a couple of weeks. Fortunately there are 2 of them and doing this is easier with two than one cat on its own.

Then in our collage we have Blackie. In early June last year someone dumped a litter of domestic kittens at one of our feed stations. There were 3 black kittens and one X-Siamese. They were there for several days whilst we looked for a foster family who could take care of them. At the time of catching them we could only find 2 black kittens and the X-Siamese and although the carer fed the colony daily the one black kitten never reappeared. After a short while of being in foster care where they were socialised all 3 were homed (all in the Lonehill area).

In early January of this year one of the security guards who had a guardhouse one block away from our feeding station approached us for food for a young black kitten that had adopted him some months before. The timing was right, to our astonishment it was Blackie. In tip top condition, tamer than most and very loving and affectionate and she just loves her security guard carer to bits. He had made a bed for her in his guardhouse and during the day she would sleep on his chair in the guardhouse or outside in the sun.

We have now provided him with bowls and bedding and food on a regular basis. In January this year she would have been 9 months old so we arranged that the guard simply pick her up, pop her into a carrier ready for us to take her to the Vet to be spayed, tested and vaccinated. When we returned her that same day the guard was in tears of relief to know his adored pet was alright. He had all of us crying at the same time.

Please let’s get these cats sterilised and vaccinated. In many cases the carers manage to raise the funds for these procedures tho’ at the same time a great deal comes out of my own pocket.

Schweppes (photo left) is today going for her pre-operation consultation with the Jhb Animal Eye Hospital. I had her spayed last week with a local Vet and she reacted well to the anaesthetic but unfortunately has developed what we think is eczema below the bad eye so her Symblepharon procedure may be delayed.

DONATIONS: Thanks to all for your food donations this week put into our bin at the Lonehill Pick’nPay, also to those who dropped off with Terri of Biz-X-Press.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”

Proof of payments to either: Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com